LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After a short turn-around, Bellarmine wrestling is back in action on Thursday Jan. 6 at the NUWAY Combat College Open National Championships at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
 
Bellarmine is one of 76 teams wrestling at the Expo Center in a tournament featuring teams from across the country.  Nineteen BU wrestlers are expected to compete in the open just five miles away.
 
It is the second consecutive open for Bellarmine after competing at the Southern Scuffle this past weekend.  The Knights wrestled in what is considered the most challenging regular season tournament in collegiate wrestling at Chattanooga to start the New Year. 
 
Devan Hendricks (165) led the Knights with two victories, defeating John McClimon (Iowa) 17-1 by technical fall and Augustine Garcia (CSU-Bakersfield) 3-1 by decision.  Cole Nance (157) corralled the other win for Bellarmine, knocking off Kenny O'Neil (South Dakota State) with 4-2 victory by decision.  All three of Nance's bouts were very competitive, each ending in a decision.  Along with the two wins for Hendricks, one of his losses was by decision as well.  The same is true for Eric Beck (174), who went winless, but fought hard in a pair of defeats by decision.  The other Bellarmine wrestlers to compete last weekend were Mike Tortorice (133), Zac Cowan (149), Mitch Collica (149), and Sam Schroeder (184).

The action begins at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday and runs into the evening.  Bellarmine will have a couple of days to rest afterwards before heading to Presbyterian for a SoCon tri-meet on Sunday with the Blue Hose and Campbell University.
 
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